Research Professor of International Relations and Strategic Studies at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Femi Otubanjo, has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his condemnation of reported spending by the ruling All Progressives Congress government.
Speaking during an interview from 25:15 on Arise News, Otubanjo questioned Atiku’s moral authority to criticise the APC over allegations that about N800 million was spent on party-related activities, arguing that such practices were not new in Nigerian politics.
“How can Atiku be complaining about somebody spending N800 million? Did Atiku not spend like that when he was Vice President? Did he not support political parties,” Otubanjo said during the interview.
The professor’s remarks came amid ongoing political debates over party financing, the use of state resources and the rising cost of political activities in Nigeria. Atiku, who served as vice president between 1999 and 2007 under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has been vocal in criticising aspects of the current administration and the APC’s management of public resources.
Otubanjo, however, argued that politicians across party lines have historically engaged in heavy spending to maintain political influence and support party structures. He suggested that criticisms of political expenditure should not be selective or directed only at opponents….Read_More…